8 The Hydra

CHAPTER 8 THE HYDRA Vulcan, fire!" Rori yelled. Vulcan blasted the four-headed dragon with a stream of fire. The dragon swiftly soared up, avoiding the flames. "The hydra from my dream!" Diego cried.

"Diego, I told Rori she can't fight Maldred on her own. But she wouldn't back down. She doesn't even have her saddle on! She could slip off Vulcan any minute!" Drake yelled. "Oh, dear!" Diego cried. He pointed a finger at Vulcan. Poof! A saddle appeared underneath Rori. Rori looked surprised for a second. Then she grabbed onto the reins. "Hi-yah!" she cried. Vulcan charged up toward the hydra.

The hydra opened all four mouths. "Rori, steer away!" Diego yelled. "The hydra shoots poison!" But Rori didn't listen. "Fire!" she yelled again. Vulcan shot out more flames just as the hydra attacked with a green mist. The fire and the mist met in midair. ROOOOAAARR! Vulcan cried out as some of the mist hit his wing. Then he dove down to the ground toward safety. Rori held on tightly. Diego rushed to the edge of the balcony. "Maldred! Come over here and fight like a wizard!" Diego challenged.

Maldred turned at the sound of Diego's voice. He steered the hydra down to the balcony. Drake ducked behind Worm. Up close, he could see that the hydra's eight eyes were glazed over red. "I am not afraid of you, Diego! Your magic cannot stop me!" Maldred said. He stared right at Drake. "You are a Dragon Master, aren't you?"

Drake was too scared to answer. "It was your dragon that destroyed my red orb," the wizard went on. "But your dragon's little trick revealed his powers to me." "What do you know about Worm?" asked Drake. "Yarrrrrrgh!" Diego let out a cry. "Begone!" He pointed at Maldred. Blue lightning shot from his finger. Smiling calmly, the evil wizard waved his hand. The blue lightning sizzled out in midair. Maldred laughed. "Is that all you've got for me, wizard?"

Diego turned to Drake. "Maldred is much too powerful," he whispered. "We need Griffith. I'll use magic to get to him quickly. But, Drake, you must stay here. Use Worm to get Rori and Vulcan to safety!" Drake nodded. "I will try." Diego snapped his fingers and vanished. Rori and Vulcan swooped down from the sky. The Fire Dragon's wing still sizzled from the poisonous attack. Maldred flew up high, back into attack position. "Fire!" Rori yelled. Vulcan blasted the hydra again. Then the hydra shot more poison at Vulcan. Vulcan dodged it, but it hit one of the castle towers. The stone sizzled and then started to melt!